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What is it? HIV infection weakens the body's ability to fight disease and can cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) — the last stage of HIV infection. HIV is the most dangerous sexually transmitted infection, and it affects people of all ages and walks of life. It is now the fifth leading cause of death for American women and men between 25 and 44 years old. It is believed that about 40, 000 Americans become infected each year. There have already been about 700,000 cases diagnosed in the U.S. Like many other viruses, HIV remains in the body for life. There may be no symptoms for 10 years or more. In one 20-year-long study, about 5% of men with HIV have not yet developed symptoms. Condoms offer very good protection against HIV.
How is it spread? HIV is present in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It is spread from an infected person to another by anal and vaginal intercourse — less commonly transmitted through oral sex. Sharing contaminated needles for injecting IV drugs is the most common method of transmission. Transmission through transfusion of contaminated blood products has become exceedingly rare. Pregnant women may transfer the virus to their newborn through childbirth and breastfeeding. Healthcare workers are at risk of contracting HIV through accidental pricks with contaminated needles. Testing for HIV is done by testing blood or testing cells from the inside of the mouth. These tests are looking for HIV antibodies. Diagnosis of AIDS is based on the presence of one or more of a variety of conditions and "opportunistic" infections related to HIV infection. Most people who have been exposed and infected with HIV will have a positive HIV test within 3-4 weeks after exposure.
Symptoms may include:
constant or rapid, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, lack of appetite
fatigue, persistent fevers, night sweats, dry cough
lightheadedness, headaches, mental disorders
a thick, whitish coating of yeast on the tongue or mouth — "thrush"
severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections
chronic PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)
purplish growths on the skin (Kaposy’s Sarcoma).
How is it treated? There is currently no cure or vaccine for HIV infection. However, HIV infection and many AIDS-related conditions — such as pneumonias, cancers, and a variety of infections that take advantage of weakened immune systems — can be managed to some extent with a variety of treatments. At this time, no one has recovered from AIDS, it is fatal.
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